Lantern



Oct. 22, 1929. C, H, KELSEA 1,732,407

LANTERN Filed July 6, 1925 Patented ct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE H. KELSEA, OF BELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSI-GHOR T0 PETER GRAY & SONSl INC., OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CQRIPORATION OF` MASSACHUSETTS LANTERN Application filed Jiuly. 6,4

This invention relates tov an illuminating apparatus and more particularly to electric signal lanterns. @ne object of the invention is to provide novel., simplified and improved erably both are supported Within' the casing in a manner such as to insure minimum trouble in focusing` the lamp socket with relation to the reflector, particularly when either of these parts are replaced in service.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of signal lantern for railroad and similar Werl; in which the reflector and lamp socket are operatively supported Within the lan-` tern casing so as to avoid lateral adjustment thereof and to be capable of adjustment longitudinally of the casing.

A still further obv'eot of the invention is to provide a novel and improved signal' lans tern in which liability of accidental shortcircuitingl of the lamp by the service man Working about the lantern is avoided.

To these ends the improved apparatus is provided with a casing; and with a reflector.` and lamp socket operatively supported therein, and provision is made for supportingn the reflector or lamp socket, and preferablyboth, Within the casing in a manner such `as to` avoid the necessity of lateral or transverse adjustment While providing;- for longitudinal adjustment.

Provision is also made for mounting the lamp socket in a manner, such as to minimize loose electrical connections, and in a man1 ner such that the soclet unit may ll@ read ily removed and replaced and the proper focusing of the socket with `relation to lthe reflector easily and simply made.

ln the preferred form of the invention, the apparatus comprises a signal lan-` tern for railroad Work, and the reflector may be maintained from movement in all direct-ions except longitudinally of the casing, by tivo supporting partitions arranged to cowoperate with the reflector to hold it from 1925. Serial No` 41,659.

movement :in all except a longitudinal direction.

The lamp socket may and preferably Will be `removably mounted in an insulating ineinber carried by and centered on a supportinrbv member, preferably of metal and attached to the rear partition.v The insulating inember carries a threaded metal bushing for the` reception of the socket-member and said busliing is metallically connected with a terminal Jost carried by the insulating` member, Where-` by a direct electrical connection is made between the socket member of the lamp` and said terminal post.

These and other features of this invention will be hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a sectional plan of a lantern` embodying the features of the present invention i Fig. `2, a detail in rear elevation and on an enlarged scale of the socket-supportingmember to illustrate the centering members thereof, and.

Fig. 3, a detail in rear elevation showing the insulating carrier for the lamp socket centered on the supportinga member shown in Figi. 2.

Referring to the drawiu which illustrate the features of the present invention as embodied in a signal lantern for railroad Work, 10` represents the lantern casing;` which is preferably of sheet metal' and provided With the usual removable front cover l2 having the usual glass 13 therein, and with the usual rear cover lll'ivhich may be removed to afford access to the rear of the interior of: the lantern. l

The. lantern casing 10 is provided with the usual reflector ll. and lamp socket 16, and provision is made for operatively supporting the reflector l5` or the lampsocket 16, and preferably both, Within the lantern casing` in a manner such as to require focusing of either only in a direction lon fblfitudinally of the lantern easing, thus eliminating all focal adjustmentof the lamp;` socket and reflector in a direction transversely of the casing.

F or this purpose, as herein shown, the casing 10 is provided with front and rear partitions or reflector-supporting members 20, 21, secured in fixed relation to the lantern casing .10 preferably by being welded thereto.

The front partition oi reflector support' ing member 2O ispprovided with an opening 23 of a size adapted to permit the reflector 15 to be inserted therethrough, but which fits around the reflector and operates to prevent transverse displacement of the reflector from its predetermined or centered position.

TheV rear partition 21 is also provided with an opening in which a pilot ring 25 issecured, which ring extends into the usual rear opening 27 in the reflector, and engages the walls thereof to support the reflector 15 in fixed relation to the rear partition 21 against lateral movement. Y

' The front partition 20 is preferably provided witha plurality of clamping lugs or members 30 capable of being bent to engage .the front of the reflector 15 and press it against the rear partition 21.

'In the manufacture of the improved signal lantern the partitions 20, 21 may be aligned, centered and jigged before being welded to the interior of the lantern casing to'definitely center the opening 23 in the front partition and the pilot ring 25 in the rear partition 21, so as to cause the reflector to assume a-v centered position Within the lantern casing 10 and to thereby eliminate all necessity for lateral focal adjustment of the reflector.

' Provision is ymade for supporting` the lamp socket 16 upon the rear partition 21 in a ,inanner such as to eliminate the necessity for all f-ocal adjustment transversely of the casing, and for this purpose the lamp socket 16 is mounted upon and supported by an insulating carrier or member 40 secured, as will be described, in precentered relation to the lantern casing so as to insure that the lamp and reflectorl are accurately maintained in transverse focus, one with relation to the other.

As herein sho'vvn, the insulating carrier or `member 40 is provided with centering members or bosses 42, 44, which vare adapted to fit into correspondingly shaped recesses or centering members 46, 48 in the rear wall 50 of a metal supporting member, preferably m'ade'in the form of a box 51 welded or otherwise'secured to the rear partition 21.

In the`manufacture of the lantern, the met-al'box 51 is jigged, aligned and welded in a position in which the recesses 46, 48 therein co-operate with the bosses 42, 44 on the insulating member 40 to cause the lamp socket 16 to be positioned centrally With respect to the lantern casing and reflector, so as to insure that the Vlamp is accurately focused transversely with relation t-o the reflector.

Thelamp socket 16 is preferably adj ustably secured to the insulating socket-supporting member 40 and is screwed through a threaded metallic bushing 56 and held in adj usted position therein by a winged nut 5S as shown in Fig. 1.

The threaded metallic bushing 56 is provided With a lateral extension or arm 5f), through which a terminal post 60 is extended and by which the bushing 56 is clamped in fixed relation to the socket-supporting meniber 40 by nut 61 (see Fig. 1).

The threaded bushing 56 and its arm 59 therefor serves as a direct electrical connection between the lamp socket 16 and the terminal post 60.

The insulating carrier or member 4() is preferably provided with a second terminal post 64 connected by a single connector 65 to the terminal 66 of the lamp socket. The insulating carrier or member 40 may be secured to the metal box 50 by additional screws 67 as shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that in illuminating apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, the reflector 15 is operatively supported within the casing in a predetermined centered position and is fixed from movement transversely with relation to the casing.

The lamp socket 16 is similarly supported within the casing to eliminate the necessity for focal adjustment transversely of the casing. These features of the invention are accomplished by aligning and iggiiig the supports or partition members 20, 21 and positively centering them in the e: sing before they are secured tothe interior thereof, in this manner not only are the reflector and lamp socket accurately centered with relation to the casing but also the cost of manufacture is materially reduced.

The clamping lugs .30 serve to hold the reflector firmly against the rear partition 2l, thus definitely establishing the longitudinal position of the i'eflector with relation to the casing.

The lamp socket 16 and the insulating member 40 carrying the terminal posts 60, 64 and comprising the socket unit of the apparatus are, as will be observed, removably secured in operative position in such manner as to permit replacement of the unit and at the same time to insure that the replaced unit be accurately centered with relation to the lantern casing, because of the fact that in the manufacture of the apparatus, the recesses 46, 48 in the metal box 51 are accurately centered, so that when the bosses 42, 44 upon the insulating member 40, fit into the recesses 46, 48, the lamp socket is caused to assume a centered position with relation to the reflector and to the lantern casing.

It will also be observed that in the present construction of apparatus the electrical connections at the rear of the lantern are simand plilied, and that both terminal posts 60, 6i are insulated from the lantern casing and also from the partitions 20, 2l, and consequently these metal parts are not included in the electric circuit.

ln this manner liability of the service man, when Working around the lantern, of shofrt circuiting one of the terminal posts with the rear partition 2l or With the lantern casing, as for example, by the careless use of a screw driver, is avoided.

ln prior constructions of apparatus of which l am aware, one of the terminal posts has been grounded to the reflect-or housing, presenting liability7 for accidental short-cireuiting by careless Work on the part of the service man.

rlhc direct connection provided by the arm 5S of the threaded bushing 56, reduces the number of connections required and avoids to a large extent the liability of loose elec.- trical connections, thus reducing the heating of the parts and the liability of the roduction of flickering in the light, and at t ie same time reducing to some extent the current consumption.

lllhile the different features of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a signal lantern for railroad work, it will be understood that they may be embodied in other forms Within the scope of the following claims.

l claim-- l. illuminating apparatus of the character described, having in combination, a. casing, a reflector', a lamp socket, a pair of partitions spaced apart and aflixed to the casing in precentered relation thereto and provided with openings, means for holding said reflector against the rear partition, supporting member for the lamp socket atlixed to said rear partition within the casing and precentered with relation to said casing, an insulating carrier for said lamp socket secured to said supporting memberI and precentered with relation thereto, and means accessible from Within the rear portion of the casing for detachably securing the said insulating carrier to said supporting member.

2., illuminating apparatus of the character described, having in combination, a casing, a reflector, a lamp socket, front and rear partitions provided with openings and se cured to the interior of the casing with the openings in predetermined centered relation to the casing, means carried by the rear partition co-operating with the reflector for holding it from movement transversely of the casing, means for holding the reflector against the rear partition, and an insulating socket-supporting member vlocated Within the casing and secured to the said rear partition in precentered and fixed relation against movement laterally of the casing and` provided with a pair of terminal posts secured thereto and accessible from the rear of said casing with the said supporting member in its fixed position, and a threaded metallic bushing for the lamp socket having an arm in direct electrical connection With one of the terminal posts and secured to said socketsiujiporting member thereby.

3. Illuminating apparatus of the character described, having in combination, a casing, a reflector, a lan'lp socket, front and rear partitions provided with openings and sccured to the interior of the easing With the openings in predetermined centered relation to the casing, means carried by the rear partition co-operating with the reflector for holding it from movement transversely of the casing, means co-operating with the reflector for holding it against the rear partition, a soc-ket-supporting member of insulating material provided with bosses, a metallic supporting member secured to the rear of said rear partition and provided. with guiding recesses for said bosses, said bosses and recesses being arranged in precentered relation to the casing, and means for removably securing the insulating socket-supporting member to the metallic supporting member With the bosses and recesses in co-operating relation.

4f. An illuminating apparatus of the character deseribed,having in combination, a casing, a reflector, a lamp socket, means atlixed to the casing for supporting the reflector Within the casing in predetermined centered relation transversely of the casing, and means for supporting the lamp socket in predetermined centered relation transversely of the casing comprising a supporting member aftixed to said casing in predetermined centered relation transversely thereof, an insulating member detachably secured to said supporting member within the rear portion of said easing, a centering member carried by said insulating member and a co-operating centering` member carried by said supporting member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CLARENCE l-l. KELSEA.

lll) 

